USA defeats CHL 4–2 in Calgary to open 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge

CALGARY —The United States National Team Development Program Under-18 squad opened the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge with a 4–2 win over Team CHL on Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The game featured elite pace, heavy pressure, and standout performances from several players expected to headline the 2026 NHL Draft class.

USA struck first at 7:29 of the opening period when Dayne Beuker finished in tight off a feed from Michael Berchild. The Americans extended their lead early in the second frame as Sammy Nelson was credited with a goal following a net-front scramble after CHL goaltender Harrison Boettiger turned aside Luke Schairer’s initial chance.

Team CHL finally broke through on its 25th shot of the night. At 13:53 of the second period, forward Chase Reid of the Soo Greyhounds buried a one-timer off a clear setup from captain Caleb Malhotra of the Brantford Bulldogs and winger Mathis Preston of the Spokane Chiefs, cutting the deficit to 2–1.

USA restored its two-goal advantage just over six minutes into the third. Wyatt Cullen converted on the power play at 6:46, using a screen from Logan Stuart and beating Boettiger with a wrist shot from the high slot. The goal gave the Americans much-needed breathing room in a game where the CHL had significantly out-shot them.

Preston, who led all CHL skaters with two points on the night, drew his team back within one. The Chiefs forward wired a wrister from the top of the right circle with 6:43 remaining in regulation, capitalizing on a late push by the CHL group. However, an empty-net marker from Jamie Glance sealed the result and delivered the NTDP’s first-ever victory at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

Boettiger made 23 saves for Team CHL, while USA goaltender Brady Knowling turned aside 42 shots in a standout performance that drew praise from both benches.

Team CHL captain Caleb Malhotra said the group expected more of itself. “We were too casual going in. Nobody in there put their best foot forward and we know that, so we’re going to come back better tomorrow,” he said post-game.

Head coach Willie Desjardins echoed the sentiment, noting the NTDP’s strong start. “I think they were more ready at the start. They had a lot to prove from last year. They’ve got really good speed on that team. We didn’t give them much in the second and third, but it was too late by then.”

Game 2 of the two-game series will be played Wednesday night in Lethbridge. If the NTDP wins, they will clinch the event. A CHL victory would send the series to a deciding “third game,” a continuous three-on-three Super OT played after an ice flood until a goal is scored.

Fans in Canada can watch the game live on TSN and RDS at 6 p.m. MT. In the United States, the broadcast will air live on NHL Network, with Victory+ carrying the international stream. A limited number of tickets for the Lethbridge game remain available.

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge, introduced in 2024, showcases elite NHL Draft-eligible players from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL against the top talent from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Fifteen CHL players in this year’s event carry “A” ratings on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List, including Carson Carels, Ethan Belchetz, and Egor Shilov.

USA Defeats Sweden 5–3 to Win Gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

TRENČÍN, Slovakia — The United States has ended a 22-year wait for gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. With a 5–3 victory over Sweden in Saturday’s final at Pavol Demitra Ice Stadium, the Americans secured their second title in tournament history and first since 2003, signaling a breakthrough moment for their U18 program on one of hockey’s most prestigious stages.

Special teams proved decisive. The U.S. struck three times on the power play, while Sweden managed just one. Sweden jumped out to a dream start when Elton Hermansson scored just 10 seconds into the game, but Levi Harper responded less than three minutes later to steady the Americans.

The opening period turned into a shootout. Noah Davidson and Jack Hextall found the back of the net for the U.S., while Theodore Knights answered for Sweden, leaving the Americans up 3–2 after twenty minutes. In the second, Nikita Klepov extended the lead with a power-play marker before Hermansson struck again to bring Sweden back within one.

Trailing 4–3, Sweden pressed hard in the final frame, generating sustained pressure, but U.S. goaltending and defensive structure held firm. With time winding down, Nick Bogas buried a power-play goal to seal a 5–3 victory and sent the American bench into celebration.

For the United States, it is their 15th medal all-time at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but only their second gold — placing them alongside Canada as the only other active participant with multiple titles. For Sweden, the silver marks their fifth in tournament history and they now have medals in six of their last seven HGC appearances.

With Canada taking bronze earlier in Brno, the 2025 edition closed with three traditional powers on the podium. The tournament now looks ahead to 2026, when Rogers Place in Edmonton will host the next Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Canadian ice.

Canada Defeats Finland 3–0 to Claim Bronze at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

BRNO, Czechia — Team Canada is bringing home another medal. Powered by scoring from three different skaters and a shutout performance in goal, Canada blanked Finland 3–0 in Game 17 of the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup bronze medal match at Winning Group Arena. The result secures medals for Canada in seven straight HGC appearances.

Canada struck first just over five minutes into the opening period when Cooper Williams (Calgary, WHL/Saskatoon Blades) buried the opener at 5:27. Colin Fitzgerald (Peterborough, OHL/Peterborough Petes) and Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, WHL/Prince Albert Raiders) collected the assists. Finland’s early penalties blunted their response and kept Canada ahead after 20 minutes.

The Canadians extended their advantage in the second period. Ethan Belchetz (Oakville, OHL/Windsor Spitfires) scored at 14:44, with helpers from Landon DuPont (Calgary, WHL/Everett Silvertips) and Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, WHL/Victoria Royals). The goal came less than half a minute after Finland’s Wilmer Kallio was penalized for tripping, swinging momentum firmly toward Canada.

Down 2–0 late, Finland pulled the goalie with 2:30 remaining, but Canada iced the game. Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, WHL/Prince Albert Raiders) scored into the empty net just 15 seconds later, assisted by Mathis Preston (Penticton, WHL/Spokane Chiefs), putting Canada up 3–0 and securing the bronze.

Canada’s Gavin Betts (Toronto, OHL/Kingston Frontenacs) was flawless, stopping all 22 shots he faced for the shutout. Finland’s William Gammals (Helsinki, FIN/HIFK U20) battled to keep his team alive, making 27 saves on 30 shots for a .900 save percentage.

With the win, Canada extends its medal streak to seven consecutive Hlinka Gretzky Cups. And while attention now turns to the 2026 World Juniors — set for December 26, 2025 through January 5, 2026 — TSN’s Gord Miller noted during the broadcast that many of these U18 skaters are projected to feature in the 2027 and 2028 World Juniors. This bronze-medal clash was not just about the present, but a glimpse into the future of international hockey.

The 2026 edition of the tournament will return to Canadian ice, with Rogers Place in Edmonton set to host.

Heartbreak in Brno: Canada Falls 4–3 to USA in Shootout at Hlinka Gretzky Cup Semifinal

BRNO, Czechia — Canada’s bid for gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup came to a heartbreaking end Friday, falling 4–3 to the United States in a shootout in the tournament’s first semifinal at Winning Group Arena.

The Americans struck first just seconds into a power play in the opening period, with Noah Davidson converting at 5:14 after Adam Valentini was sent off for slashing. The U.S. battled penalty trouble early, taking three more minors before the intermission but killing them off to stay up 1-0.

Ethan Belchetz brought Canada level 34 seconds into the second period, finishing a play from Carson Carels and Landon DuPont. But the U.S. responded at 8:32 when Luke Puchner restored the lead. Canada found itself shorthanded late in the frame, and the Americans capitalized, with Blake Zielinski scoring on the power play at 18:58 to make it 3–1.

Needing a spark in the third, Canada found one on the man advantage. Tynan Lawrence scored just three minutes in, assisted by Ryan Lin and Markus Ruck, to pull within one. With 5:05 remaining in regulation, Mathis Preston tied the game 3–3 to force overtime.

Canada outshot the U.S. 37–32, including a dominant 20–3 edge in the third period, but neither side could score in the extra frame. In the shootout, Joseph Salandra and Nikita Klepov scored for the Americans, while Preston was the lone Canadian to beat goaltender Brady Knowling. Zielinski’s clincher sealed the win for the U.S., sending them to the gold medal game.

Knowling finished with 34 saves for the Americans. Canada’s Gavin Betts stopped 29 shots in the loss.

The result means Canada will play Finland for bronze on Saturday, while the United States advances to face Sweden for gold with both games getting underway at 11:00 AM Eastern.

Canada Tops Finland 5–3 in Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Opener

BRNO, Czechia – Team Canada’s Under-18 squad began their 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup campaign with a 5–3 victory over Finland in a tightly contested opening game at the Winning Group Arena.

Beckham Edwards (Komoka, ON) opened the scoring just 58 seconds into the first period, assisted by Mathis Preston (Penticton, BC) and Ryan Lin (Richmond, BC). Captain Keaton Verhoeff (Fort Saskatchewan, AB) doubled Canada’s lead midway through the period with help from Ethan Belchetz (Oakville, ON) and Tynan Lawrence (Fredericton, NB).

Finland responded with two late goals from Oscar Hemming and Jiko Laitinen to level the score at 2–2 by the first intermission.

With the second period winding down, Ryan Lin broke the deadlock, scoring with just eight seconds remaining off a feed from Adam Valentini (Toronto, ON) and Belchetz. Early in the third period, Dimian Zhilkin (Windsor, ON) extended Canada’s lead to 4–2, assisted by Verhoeff and Belchetz. Finland’s Vilho Vanhatalo pulled the score back to 4–3, but Belchetz secured the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Goaltender Gavin Betts (Toronto, ON) stopped 23 of 26 shots to earn the win.

Day 1 Tournament Results:

• Czechia 6–2 Switzerland

• Sweden 10–0 Germany

• United States 6–3 Slovakia

Next Game:
Canada will face Switzerland on Tuesday, August 12, at 9:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. MT in Brno.

The Hlinka-Gretzky Cup has long been a proving ground for future NHL stars, with alumni including Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor Bedard. This year’s roster features promising talent aiming to make their mark on the international stage.

Provectus Media will provide daily Canada-first coverage throughout the tournament, including game recaps, player features, and analysis from Brno.

Follow along at provectusmedia.ca for complete coverage of Team Canada at the 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.